Janesville Acoustics to close GR plant

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Plant management at Janesville Acoustics' Grand Rapids-area facility has told its employees the plant will close and workers will lose their jobs by the end of the month, employees told 24 Hour News 8.

The company, 3232 Kraft Ave., in Cascade Township, makes door parts for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler automobiles.

Employees said they received a 60-day warning letter in November.

"I think the company has done what they could," said Dan Hammersmith, a longtime Janesville employee and union steward. "We had come through a long ways, and I thought we were on the upswing."

Management at the plant and its corporate offices had no comment on the situation and would not confirm or deny the plant's imminent closure Monday.

Half of the union members at the plant are older than age 50, Hammersmith said.

"It's a challenging time," he added.

Some employees have been laid off already.

The company offered workers severance packages when the closure was announced, Hammersmith said.